Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-30

served ruins about Rome and antedates ths
birth of Christ seventy-nine years. Oppo
site are the ruins of the circus of Maxentius
which gives one pretty good idea of wha!
a circus was like fifteen hundred and odd
years ago. THIS one was oblong STA fee,
269 feet, and accommodated eighteen
Thousand spectators. Long stretches OF
the walls are still remaining.
Having crossed to the other side Of the
Tiber we drove up past the fountains into
the semi-circle of the Vatican and mount
the steps to st Peters. In my day dreams
and musings along through the years tina!
have passed since arriving at mans estate ]
have pictured TO myself this acme of archi.
tectural skill I have formed opinions OF
its beauty and magnitude from accounts
had read Of ii. I suppose now If | had
gone through Europe blindfol ed and re-
moved the bandage only after had entered
| st. Peters all my expectations
would have been realized. l must
confess to a feeling of disappointment
which l tried in vain to shake off.
even after a second visit, where on Sunday
| had plenty Of leasure to attend service in
one Of It's nemuerous chapels, and roam at
| my own sweet will throughout It's length
and breadth. Whether its immensely was
beyond my conception, or my preconceived
ideas of 1t were SO exalted Us to dwarf it
when in its actual presence, is problem
am not able TO solve When Mosaic
representing st. Luke writing with quill
at distance apparently Of 200 feet above
me was pointed out and was assured that
the quill was seven feet in length l
couldn't believe 1t. My sense of measure
| ment told me that 1t could not possibly be
more than two feet long Figures that
was told were colossal appeared as life size.
ST.. Peters was built by Constantine, A D..
1926 ON the site Of Nero's circus (where st.
Peter was martyred) and surrounded by
rich churches, converts, etc.
Charlemagne and many emperors and
popes were crowned there. 1t @as subse-
quently RACED to the ground, and in 1850
to 1926 the present church was built.
Raphael, Michael Angelo and Bernini,
who put the finishing touches on 1t, being
among It's architects. cit cost over sixty
millions of dollars, took 176 years Che
reigns of twenty eight popes) to build it
and covers two hundred and forty thOus-
and square feet, being the largest church
ia the world. It's total length
is 696 fe.r, length of transcpt
$50 feet, length of nave 619 feet.
width of nave eighty eight feet, height OF
same 153 feet, height of dome al feet.
The interior has thirty affairs, 14S columns,
inlaid marble pavement, brilliantly gilded
vaultiDg upheld by Corinthian pillars and
piers, famous bonze statue of St Peter en-
throned, many colossal statues of saints,
vast Inscription ard pictures In mosaic,
canopy ninety five ct made by Byrnini of
bronze taken from the Pant heOn high altar
over the tomb OF st. Peter, beautiful
chapel, tombs of the popes, many paintings
10y great masters and statues of Michael,
Angelo, Canova and Thorwaidsen.
In one of the chapels we witnessed the
ceremony of the christening of an infant,
and standing In front of the statue of St.
Peter in bronze viewed the molly throng
who took their turn In kissing the toe of
the apostles etfigy. The left transcript was
the space occupied by the ecuminical
council at their sessions few Years since
when the doctrine of infallibility was de-
cared.
The vatican which adjoins st. Peters has
the distinction of being the largest palace
in the world Think of eleven thousand
halls and rooms being contained in one
building. 1t has for many centuries been
the abiding place of the popes. Even the
Charemague considered 1t good
enough for his own abode and resided
here On entering the vast hall that leads
to the museums to which visitors are ad-
mitted one is struck with the fantastic
uniforms worn by the Swiss guards In at
tendance, which was designed by Michael
Angelo and in all the years that have fled
since he passed away-say period Of 300
no changed has been attempted. These
guards are an especial feature of the vati-
can, being subject only to the order Of the
pope. They are usually Of almost gigantic
stature, Ike the body guard Of Frederick
the Great, and their unique uniform of
yellow and red with brass helmet seems
only befitting the glamor Of the stage. We
first entered the Sistine chapel built by
his holiness, Pope Sixtus ", in 1873
The chief object of attraction here Is The
great fresco Of Michael Angelo, represent
ing the last judgment. He was eight
J ears engaged at this work and completed
1t in his sixty ninth year. Viewed from
the further end of the hall the figures stand
out like colossal sculptures In bas-relief. |
The figure In the right hand corner repre-
senting Midas with ASS ears, Is Messer
Biago of Cssena, the pope's master Of cere
who said the nude figures were in
decent, on which account the pope ordered
Daniel da Volterra to cover Them with |
drapery, which obtained for him a ccgu0-
men of breeches maker. Michael AngelO |
said: Let the pope reform the world and |
the pictures will reform themselves" and |
to spite Beago he represented him In hell, |
whereat he complained to the pope In order |
to have his figure removed. The pope re |
piled as he was IN hell he must remain !
there, as he had no power to release from
hell, but from purgatory."
From here we passed into the picture |
galleries containing vast number Of fres |
Goes, mosaics and paintings both modern |
and ancient. Here Is Raphaels master |
piece, THE TRANSPORTATION, and great |
many other works by the same hand. also |
by Murilo, Titan, and others known to t
fame Many of these paintings were tax |
an by Napolean from the churches Ia Rome |
and appropriated by himself As In the
case of Rubrus' two masterpieces, taken
By him from the cathedral at Antwerp.
hey were returned after his downfall, and
hose belonging to Rome are now contain
I'd iD this collection. The museum Of
Is quite extensive. Many of the
igures have served as models for half the
that graces the museums of Eu-
-ope and America There are eighteen
hundred pieces here exhibited, including
Apollo Belgedere, Juno. Minerva, Mercury,
Penelope the reclining statute Of Arisdne,
he bust of Caesar Augustus, Socrstes,
Demostsenes, Disgones, Homer, and in
act all the demi-gods. muses. ard great
who figured In the history Of
classic Greece and Rome. There Is
IN armless statute called the Tor.